A DECISION on whether Suffolk and Cambridgeshire fire services will be merged is to be discussed this month before a final decision is made in the new year.
During the summer, both services were asked to look into the possibility of a full collaboration in a bid to protect front-line services.
It follows an earlier move which brought Cambridgeshire and Suffolk call centres under one roof last October.
Suffolk County Council’s cabinet will discuss the case for a full merger on October 16 before Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority and Suffolk County Council announce their final decision in the New Year.
Andy Fry, Suffolk’s Chief Fire Officer, said: “Throughout this process, we are being guided by a mandate agreed by our councillors to explore opportunities for sharing resources, on a fair and equitable basis, as a means of protecting front-line fire and rescue services and minimising the financial impact of doing so on taxpayers in Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.
“This is a real opportunity to adapt to changing, and increasingly challenging, economic circumstances in a way that affords some protection to critical life-saving services.”
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